Car-coupling



(No Model.)

W. J. HARKNESS.

GAR GOUPLING.

No. 432,039. Patented July 16, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEricE.

lVILLlAM Jf HARKNESS, OF YANKEETOVN,lLLlNOlS. f

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 432,039, dated July 15, 1890.

Application iiled March 8, 1890. Serial No. 343,138. (No model.)

To (all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, W ILLIAM J. HARKNEss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Yankeetown,in the county of Woodford and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings; and l do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in car-couplings, the object being to so constructthe same that the ears will be automatically coupled oncoming together, thus obviating the necessity of a brakeman going between the cars to manipulate the link, which is a sourceof great danger, frequently resulting in loss of life. j

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described, and then delinitely pointed out in the claim.

In the aceompanyin drawings, illustrating the invention, Figure l is a perspective View of a portion of an ordinary box-car with my improved coupling applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the draw-head. Fig. 3 is a similar View with the coupling-bar inserted. Fig. Il is a front view ot' the drawhead. Fig. 5 is a planview of the couplingbar.

In the said drawings, the reference-numeral l designates the draw-head provided with a recess 2. In the front lower portion of the draw-head are two beveled proj eetions 3, with a central space et. Immediately in rear of these projections is a transverse lever 5, pivoted or fulcrumed in the sides of the drawhead and projecting outside thereof on one or both sides and formed or provided with an operating-handle 6. This lever is provided with an arm orwing 7, centrally located thereon within the recess 2, and serves to disengage the coupling-bar and uncouple the cars, as will hereinafter appear. Secured to the front of the draw-head and projecting downwardly and rearwardly into the recess 2 is a [iat spring 8, which bears upon the end of the coupling-bar and prevents its accidental displacement.

The coupling-bar seen in Fig. 5 consists of a rectangular portion l), having double wings l0 at heach end, which are provided with side and top and bottom beveled endsl2, forming blunt points. slots or apertures 13.

let designates a vertical aperture in the draw-head for receiving an ordinary coupling-pin.

The operation is as follows: One end of the coupling-bar is inserted in the d raw-head of a car, the portion 9 engaging in recess fl and the wings l0 engaging with projections 3, the spring 8 bearing down upon the couplingbar and holding it in a horizontal position. As the cars approach each other, the pin end of the coupling-bar will enter the draw-head ofthe opposite car, the end thereof striking the beveled projections 3 and riding over the same, when the wings l0 will engage with them in the rear, and the cars will thus be coupled, the spring 8 forcing the said bar down and holding it in place. To uucouple or disengage the coupling-bar, it is simply necessary to manipulate lever 5 by means of the handle G, so as to raise the arm 7, forcing the end of the coupling-bar from engagement with the projections 3, when it can readily be Withdrawn from the draw-head.

It is obvious that an ordinary link may be used when desired instead of the couplingbar, and secured in the draw-head by means of an ordinary coupling-pin. The coupling- Vbar is provided with slots lf3, through which said pin may pass, and thus afford additional securing means.

From the above it will be seen that my invention is simple and economical, and will be found to be very effective in practice, as the cars may be automatically coupled without the intervention of a brakeman or other operator. l Y

The handle 6 of lever 5 may be provided with a chain leading to the top of the ear, so as to operate it therefrom, or it may be operated from the platform, as found most convenient, according to the design of car on which it is used.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is They are also provided with ICO In :t car-coupler, the combination, with the draw-head l, having recess 2, vertical aperture 14, beveled projections 3, space or recess 4, lever 5, having handle 6, and arm '7, of the 5 coupling-bar 9,11aving Wings lO, beveled ends I l2, and slots or apertures 13, substantially its described.

In testimony whereof ztiix 'my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

VILLIAM J. HARKNESS. Witnesses:

PORTER HARKNEss, SAMUEL E. MELcHERT. 

